Bruno Fernandes' absence at Villa Park always meant that Manchester United's midfield was going to have an unfamiliar look to it.
In recent weeks, the Portugal international, who missed the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa after picking up his fifth booking of the season during last weekend's 1-0 win over West Ham United, has joined forces with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in the engine room, helping United solve what was one of their biggest problems last season. Although he has not been at his fluent best this term, scoring just two goals and grabbing two assists, his absence was always bound to be felt in more ways than one.
Such is Fernandes' role as architect-in-chief, almost everyone anticipated that Eriksen would leave his No.8 role and move into the attacking-midfield berth at the tip of Erik ten Hag's three-man midfield system. The Dane, despite conducting a more reserved role since arriving at Old Trafford during the summer, is a seasoned attacking midfielder, renowned for making things happen and creating chances for the forwards.
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It, therefore, seemed obvious that either Scott McTominay or Fred would fill Eriksen's void and slot in alongside Casemiro, offering an extra layer of protection, allowing Eriksen to flex his muscles in a more advanced role. However, Ten Hag decided to stick with Donny van de Beek, much to the surprise of everyone.
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The Netherlands international failed to impress on his first start in United colours in almost a year against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian on Thursday, meaning not many people expected him to be in the conversation to deputise for Fernandes against Villa. Ten Hag, though, kept his faith with the former Ajax man, handing him the reins in the No.10 position, leaving Eriksen in the position he has become so accustomed to since joining the club.
It was the second time this season that Eriksen was not asked to move into the attacking-midfield berth when Fernandes had not started, the first being against Sociedad in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in September. That evening, which saw United lose 1-0, Fred played in the more advanced role and failed to have any kind of impact on proceedings.
The same, too, can be said for Van de Beek against Villa. He had no impact on the game, registering a paltry 18 touches of the ball before being hooked after 65 minutes. He struggled to get to grips with the occasion and looked exactly like a player that had not started a meaningful Premier League fixture in 701 days.
Of course, it is fair and correct to recognise that Van de Beek has only recently recovered from a lengthy injury lay-off and that he only started against Villa because of Fernandes' absence, but he has failed to produce so much as a glimmer of hope in the two last two games to offer encouragement and optimism that his Reds career might, at long last, be about to spark into life. But his United career has failed to live up to expectations for far too long, meaning there is a growing belief that both the club and Van de Beek might have to accept that his move to M16 is never meant to work out.
However, Van de Beek's last two appearances have seen him start in the attacking-midfield berth, the position that Ten Hag, during pre-season, pinpointed as being his fellow countryman's best. He failed to prove that against both Sociedad and Villa.
Speaking back in July, Ten Hag said: "He can do both [sit deep and play high] - I know that from the past. But his best position is his capabilities in the box of the opponent, so playing short behind the striker [is his best role].
"He has a really good smell for being in the right position."
Unfortunately, Ten Hag's assessment of Van de Beek doesn't appear to be correct. Again, you must factor in that he is recovering from a spell on the sidelines and that he has struggled for regular minutes in recent months, but it is becoming clearer that he is fighting a lost cause in an attempt to save his Old Trafford career.
He has rarely justified his big-money price tag and United's supporters, as patient as they have been, longing for his move to work out, might just have to accept it is never going to happen for him in M16. Ten Hag has tried to revive his career and he has so far failed to take the chance.
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